International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Dr Ashish Mulraj Ved
Abstract: Oil drilling operations are among the most hazardous industrial activities because they involve high-pressure systems, flammable hydrocarbons, heavy machinery, lifting operations, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals, transportation, and complex interactions between employees and contractors. Although drilling companies use formal safety-management systems, serious incidents may still occur because hazards are not identified early, near misses are underreported, corrective actions are delayed, or communication fails during critical operations. This conceptual paper introduces the Safety Circle Approach, a proactive and participatory framework intended to support incident prevention in oil drilling operations. The approach connects personnel at all organisational levels through a continuous cycle of hazard observation, communication, risk assessment, control implementation, verification, and organisational learning. It places particular emphasis on frontline worker participation, stop-work authority, near-miss reporting, contractor coordination, permit-to-work systems, and verification of safety-critical barriers. The proposed framework is designed for drilling rigs, well-servicing operations, land-based drilling sites, and offshore drilling installations. It integrates safety activities into daily operations, including tripping, drilling, well control, pressure testing, lifting, maintenance, tank cleaning, chemical handling, and simultaneous operations. This paper presents the conceptual foundation, operating stages, implementation model, performance indicators, and proposed evaluation method for the Safety Circle Approach. It argues that a strong safety circle can improve hazard visibility, strengthen safety culture, reduce repeated failures, and support the prevention of major accidents in the oil drilling industry.
DOI: https://zenodo.org/records/22977841
